NFL

Simms makes case to be Jets third-string QB

Matt Simms may have played his way onto the Jets Thursday night … if he can walk this morning.

The quarterback made his case to be the team’s third-string quarterback after completing 33-of-44 for 285 yards in a 27-20 win over the Eagles at MetLife Stadium in the teams’ preseason finale.

We’ll find out in the coming days if the Jets’ brass feels Simms showed enough to get a roster spot over Greg McElroy, who did not play because of a left knee injury he aggravated in practice this week. The only problem for Simms may be how sore he is today after getting sacked seven times behind a porous offensive line consisting of almost all backups.

After a rocky start, Simms was unbelievably accurate. He completed 25-of-27 passes during one stretch.

The son of Giants legend Phil Simms, Matt made his first professional start last night and played the entire game. Rookie Geno Smith, the Jets’ likely Week 1 starter, did not play in the game. Mark Sanchez is out with a shoulder injury.

General manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan now must decide if Simms makes the cut. They will cut 22 players by tomorrow night at 6 p.m. to get the roster to 53.

Whoever is chosen between Simms and McElroy could be the Jets’ backup quarterback against the Buccaneers on Sept. 8. The Jets remain unsure if Sanchez will be able to play in that game. He still has not thrown a football and with each passing day the chances he’ll play are decreasing. A source said the most optimistic timeline the Jets have been given on Sanchez is he could play in Week 1, but it depends on how quickly Sanchez can begin throwing again.

A clean-shaven Sanchez watched Simms operate the offense from the sideline last night. Things started out roughly for the second-year quarterback from Franklin Lakes, N.J. His first pass was nearly intercepted by Eagles linebacker Chris McCoy. He was sacked by McCoy on his second attempt and then was sacked for a safety on his third play to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

The Jets defense got the ball back quickly when linebacker Ricky Sapp sacked Eagles quarterback Nick Foles and forced a fumble that nose tackle Antonio Garay recovered.

Taking the ball over at the Philadelphia 29, Simms began to hit a few passes and running back Kahlil bell scored an 8-yard touchdown out of the wildcat to give the Jets a 7-2 lead.

Simms spent most of the night running for his life behind the backup offensive line. Vlad Ducasse was the only potential starter to play. The left side of the line — rookie guard Brian Winters and tackle Jason Smith — had a brutal night. Smith, in particular, was atrocious and most likely played his way off the roster. Smith unofficially gave up three sacks.

After that initial drive, Simms settled in and picked apart the Eagles defense. Granted, the Eagles were playing their backups but Simms looked like he was playing a video game, hitting every pass and marching the Jets down the field. Outside of two fumbles, one that was lost, he played very well.

The Eagles cut the sore to 10-5 on a Alex Henery 38-yard field goal just before halftime. Nick Folk pushed the Jets’ lead to 13-5 with a 28-yard field goal of his own in the third quarter.

Eagles draft pick Matt Barkley came in at quarterback in the third quarter and led Philadelphia to its only touchdown. Matthew Tucker ran it in from three yards and ran for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 13-13.

The Jets spared everyone from a second straight week of overtime when Bell scored his second touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter to make it 20-13.

Safety Antonio Allen put the exclamation point on the win with an interception returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

brian.costello@nypost.com